Illegal Activities as a Result of Prohibition

734 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Temperance movement thesis

While the Eighteenth Amendment, federally enforced prohibition, was ratified on January 16th, 1919; thirty three states had already been enforcing their own prohibitions for much longer. Prohibition was so widely accepted because of the awful effects it was having on the general populace. Throughout the history of the United States alcohol had a place in everyday life. It was not uncommon for it to be had at every meal, and there were even drinking breaks much like the smoke breaks we have in this day and age.(A Nation Of Drunkards. Prohibition: Roots of Prohibition. PBS, n.d. Web.) The staggering amount of alcohol abuse, mainly by men, wrecked havoc on the home lives many; either by lacking income as it was being spent on alcohol, or by domestic abuse. Temperance groups such as Women’s Christian Temperance Union; which fought for women’s rights as well as their dreams of a dry country, and the later Anti-Saloon League strived to get congress to pass an amendment that would abolish the manufacture, distribution, and sale of all liquor. The ASL grew in strength and became a particularly powerful social and political influence, and soon the amendment was ratified. The idea was noble, and for a just cause, however prohibition had the opposite effect than was anticipated. Rather than being the “The great social and economic experiment”(The New Day; Campaign Speeches of Herbert Hoover) that it was supposed to be, it increased crime rates and allowed for the formation of crime syndicates who would make millions in illegal liquor sales through, bootlegging; the illegal production of alcohol, and rum-running; the smuggling of liquor into the United States that was legally produced elsewhere.
Alcohol was outlawed from its manufacture to it...

... middle of paper ...

...nal Prohibition to Be Disastrous and Called for Repeal." Alcohol Problems and Solutions. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2013.

Hoover, Herbert. The New Day; Campaign Speeches of Herbert Hoover, 1928.Stanford, CA: Stanford UP, 1928. Print.

McClary, Daryl C. "Olmstead, Roy --- King of King County Bootleggers." HistoryLink. N.p., 13 Nov. 2002. Web.

Meredith, William A. "Prohibition: The Great Experiment." Prohibition: The Great Experiment. The University at Albany, 29 Apr. 2005. Web. 21 Nov. 2013.

Newsome, Eric. Pass the Bottle: Rum Tales of the West Coast. Victoria, B.C.: Orca Book, 1995. Print.

"Roy Olmstead." Roy Olmstead. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2013. .

"18th and 21st Amendments." Nolo.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2013. .

Show More
Related

  • How Did The 18th Amendment Change America

    632 Words  | 2 Pages

    In 1920 following the ratification of the 18th amendment the country became dry. The 18th amendment made it illegal to manufacture, sell, import, or export drinking alcohol. It would stay this way for a little more than a decade, which became known as the prohibition. Prohibition was a way to clean up the cities and improving the conditions of the US. Prohibition was approved because drinking was thought be a drag on the economy and the leading cause for some of the country's problems such as corruption, child abuse, crime, and unemployment. Fourteen years later in 1932 America had changed its mind and it was repealed. So what changed? The American people had changed their minds about the 18th amendment because crime had increased,

    Read More

  • DBQ Prohibition Essay

    836 Words  | 2 Pages

    “There'd never been a more advantageous time to be a criminal in America than during the 13 years of Prohibition. At a stroke, the American government closed down the fifth largest industry in the United States - alcohol production - and just handed it to criminals - a pretty remarkable thing to do.-Bill Bryson” The prohibition act,also known as the 18th amendment, was a law that the American Government enforced to ban liquor because congress believed alcohol was a huge factor of a drag on economy. The prohibition took place during the Great Depression era which was between 1920 to 1933. Why was the prohibition of alcohol was repealed? The 18th amendment was repealed for several reasons. The prohibition increased criminal activities, the government can earn money by taxing liquor and it was utterly impossible to control thousands of borders for surveillance.

    Read More

  • Prohibition DBQ Essay

    790 Words  | 2 Pages

    During the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, many saw alcohol as a cause of instability among communities. To counteract the effects of alcohol on American society, The Temperance Movement, Prohibition Party and many others sought to enact anti-liquor laws that would prohibit the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol. On January 19, 1920, the Eighteenth Amendment had taken effect and a nationwide ban on alcohol was enacted. This was thought of as a solution to the many problems that America had at the time, but it only made matters worse. The American society had been greatly affected by the Eighteenth Amendment in many negative aspects such as increasing crime and violence, worsening the economy, and much more.

    Read More

  • Okrent’s Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition

    1451 Words  | 3 Pages

    The book “Last Call,” by Daniel Okrent, provides an interesting insight into, as he describes it the “triumphant failures” of prohibition, and the bold display of ignorance that defined the policies governing its enactment, enforcement, and eventual downfall. Okrent takes us into the debates waged between what he repeatedly refers to as wet and dry Americans. Okrent’s remarkably original account, shows readers how the prohibition supporters integrated native fears of immigration, ignorance, and stereotypes in a movement that would in time shaped a decade and even resulted in an unprecedented failure in an amendment of the American Constitution.

    Read More

  • Prohibition Synthesis Essay

    1504 Words  | 4 Pages

    In 1920, a leading Prohibitionist declared in Congress that “There is as much chance of repealing the Eighteenth Amendment as there is for a hummingbird to fly to the planet Mars with the Washington Monument tied to its tail.” 13 years later, after the outbreak of the Great Depression this is exactly what happened? However, the main reason lies not with the Depression itself; this was merely the catalyst for its repeal. The simple fact the prohibition did not achieve its aims was the main cause of the passing of the Twenty-first Amendment, bringing about other factors which pushed the anti-Prohibition movement forwards.

    Read More

  • The Backlash of Prohibition

    807 Words  | 2 Pages

    Once people wanted a drink, nothing stopped them. Subsequently, prohibition sparked American ingenuity to step to the forefront. A black market emerged, as brewing beer making wine, and distilling whiskey, became a national past time. Enterprising home brewers could make enough Home brew, Dago Red, Bathtub Gin or Moonshine to quench their thirst and to sell as well. Therefore, stills begin popping up in basements, barns, backrooms, and the deep woods. Both Canada and Mexico were wet, and their border towns offered many opportunities for thirsty Americans to quench their thirst. Ships anchored outside the three-mile limit on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, loaded with alcohol becoming floating bars and nightclubs. Additional ships offered cases of alcohol spirits only to the professional rumrunners. Illegal liquor grew to such an extent that enforcement became virtually impossible.

    Read More

  • Prohibition - 'The Noble Experiment'

    884 Words  | 2 Pages

    Prohibition was designed to rid the country of businesses that manufactured, sold, and or distributed alcoholic beverages. The eighteenth amendment made it a violation of the constitution to do and of the before mentioned. This was a crime punishable up to the Supreme Court. The original idea was that Americans as a whole were unhealthy, there was too much crime and corruption, and that people were being burdened by excess taxes that poorhouses and prisons were creating. What happened? The cheap alcohol being illegally produced killed more Americans, crime and corruption went up, taxes were raised to fund the law enforcement needed to enforce prohibition, and the prisons became overcrowded.

    Read More

  • How Did Prohibition Affect Society

    623 Words  | 2 Pages

    Prohibition was the nationwide outlaw of sale, production, importation, and transportation of alcohol. The purpose of prohibition was to improve the lives of Americans, and to protect individuals, families and society from the effects of alcohol. Alcohol abuse destroyed the lives of many, especially in a time when women were dependent on men for support. The Temperance movement was the country's first anti-alcohol movement, the movement campaigned against alcohol use. It was rooted in religious objections to consuming alcohol and the belief that society would benefit if alcohol was unavailable. The two major groups who battled to outlaw alcohol were the Woman's Christian Temperance Movement and The Anti-Saloon League. In January 1929, Prohibition was put into law by passing the Eighteenth Amendment to the

    Read More

  • Was Prohibition A Success Or Failure Essay

    512 Words  | 2 Pages

    Even before the 18th Amendment went into effect in January of 1920, many Americans were in support of Prohibition. Supporters wanted America to be a healthier, safer, and more moral country. Alcohol was causing many problems around the United States. Some people were getting drunk on the job, causing accidents. Others were abusive towards their families. Many people began to realize the affects that alcohol was causing to their country. They believed that enforcing a law that would prohibit the manufacturing, transportation, and selling of alcohol would solve many of these problems by making it unavailable.

    Read More

  • Impact of Prohibition in The Great Gatsby

    1664 Words  | 4 Pages

    "Temperance & Prohibition." Table of Contents | Temperance & Prohibition. Ohio State University, n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2014.

    Read More

  • Prohibition: The Failure Of The Temperance Movement

    534 Words  | 2 Pages

    Prohibition became the next step in the temperance movement. Women and conservative politicians in the early 20th century pushed for the all right legal ban of alcohol, alcohol consumption and alcohol manufacturing and distribution. Although the 18th Amendment was created and passed to reduce crime and corruption, solve social problems, and improve the health and hygiene of Americans, it was disregarded by many as ineffective and feeble. Alcohol prohibition ultimately resulted in failure due to the

    Read More

  • The Success and Failure of the Prohibition

    978 Words  | 2 Pages

    Okrent, Daniel. "Prohibition Life: Politics, Loopholes And Bathtub Gin." NPR. NPR, 2010. Web. Feb. 2014.

    Read More

  • Prohibition in the Great Gatsby

    1346 Words  | 3 Pages

    "The Prohibition Era." The Prohibition Era. Historic Patterson, 22 Mar. 2013. Web. 26 Feb. 2014.

    Read More

  • The Temperance Movement

    1366 Words  | 3 Pages

    Blocker, Jack S., Jr. "Did Prohibition Really Work? Alcohol Prohibition as a Public Health Innovation." 1 Feb. 2006. eLibrary. 23 Sept. 2013.

    Read More

  • Effects of MDMA

    1336 Words  | 3 Pages

    Greer, Mark. "Letters to the Editor: Prohibition is Immoral." The Wall Street Journal. June 24, 1998.

    Read More

More about Illegal Activities as a Result of Prohibition

Open Document